Kenya’s Phillip Lagat unexpectedly stole the show at last night’s KPMG Invitational Mile by beating red-hot favourite Shadrack Biwot who reigned supreme a year ago.Lagat, in his first ever elite mile race, claimed victory ahead of United States’ Luke Watson and fellow Kenyan Biwot in a time of four minutes 20.2 seconds.Less than a second separated the first three finishers with Watson coming home in just three hundredths of a second behind Lagat, while Biwot posted a time of 4.20.8.Chayce Smith was the first Bermudian to cross the finish line in a time of 4:20.95 to place fourth ahead of Lamont Marshall who came sixth in 4:26.50.The elite male runners treated the cheering spectators who lined Front Street to a thrilling finish with Lagat successfully holding off the close attentions of Watson, Biwot and Smith who were breathing down his neck for the race’s duration.Lagat admitted that he not expected to claim victory over Biwot who won all three International Race Weekend events 12 months ago.“I really didn’t expect to win but I made a strong start and tried to keep my focus,” he said. “The conditions tonight were very good and as I approached the last 200 metres I thought I could win and I gave it all I had. I really like Bermuda, the people are very friendly and I’d like to come back next year to race.”In the adult male race, Gary Raynor pulled off a shock triumph over Stephen Allen and pre-race favourite Darico Clarke.The veteran, who was running in the Masters category, recorded a time of 4:38.9 with local football referee Allen finishing in 4:39.9 and Clarke in 4.40.2.Raynor, 42, had finished second in his previous two Front Street Mile races and he said he was delighted to finally break his duck and come first.“To pick up two seconds in a row isn’t discouraging, but to come back this year and to actually win it at my age is really exciting,” he said.“This year I started out too fast and told myself to bring it back a bit and not to let the younger guys with younger legs take advantage of me at the end.”Raynor paid tribute to the spectators who turned out in their droves to support last night’s competitors.“Anyone can win the event on any given day and on the back stretch I opened it up. I think I’ll hang up my sneakers after this one but the crowd makes you want to come out again and race for them.“I’d like the say thank you to all the spectators for coming out, they are the reason we come out and do this.”